The Seasonal Deciduous Forests on flat terrain (FEDTP) were widely converted to pastures in the North of The Paranã River Valley, Goiás County, remaining few forest fragments which do not correspond to the original vegetation distribution. The FEDTP biodiversity conservation depends on the restoration to increase the size and connection of forest fragments. The aims of this dissertation were: (1) to estimate the FEDTP potential distribution and to identify priority areas for restoration efforts; (2) to characterize the natural regeneration of FEDTP tree species on productive pastures; (3) to test restoration techniques on abandoned pastures. To achieve the first aim, the FEDTP potential distribution was estimated by the soil pH and altitude characteristics of remnant fragments. The potential distribution map was generated with 70% accuracy. Were identified 2,000 ha of deforested protected areas (Áreas de Proteção Permanente), where there is some chance to original occurrence of FEDTP. Those areas were indicated as priority areas for restoration of FEDTP. In the potential distribution area of FEDTP, the productive pastures have a considerable natural regeneration of trees comparable to the tree regeneration in forest fragments. The density of tree stems did not vary with the age of the pasture, but the 25 and 40-year-old pastures had lower species richness of tree stems. Abrupt restoration techniques as soil plowing disturbed the natural regeneration and, in fact, retarded the succession. Planting tree seedlings, without cleaning the grass cover, resulted in an elevated survival of seedlings which was not sufficient to overcome the natural regeneration in terms of density. However, planting seedlings increased the species richness of trees. The growth of 3 natural established stems was higher with the grass cleaning, even though the high survival of planted seedlings. The important natural regeneration of FEDTP trees on pastures means that the succession may begin with only the abandonment of human disturbances and we recommend only enrichment planting of seedlings that do not occur naturally in pastures.

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Tese de doutorado defendida no Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília